In 2012, I was working in D.C. for the man who built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the 1980s.

In my time with Jan Scruggs and his nonprofit, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, I met veterans with incredible stories of the horrors of war, but also of heroes.

A few stand out.

In August 2012, I met Dennis Hall at The Wall.

He had been diagnosed with cancer and had only months to live. His dying wish was to see The Wall, as it’s known. His Oklahoma town raised money to send him, his wife and daughter to D.C. so that his wish would be fulfilled.

Dennis was in a wheelchair when I met him at The Wall with one of my co-workers to give him a tour and introduce him to Scruggs.

I will never forget watching him find the names of his friends and rising out of his wheelchair, on shaky legs, to reach up and touch their names.

It was all I could do not to break down in tears.

He left a flag and a hat at the memorial in honor of his friends and when it was time to go, he hugged me and thanked me.

I cannot put into words what it feels like when a veteran thanks me for simply doing my job.

In July, VVMF’s traveling replica of the memorial, known as The Wall That Heals, came to Great Falls.

Since I had worked for the nonprofit before, local veterans asked me to help out with the planning, and I reported on the visit. That week, I met so many veterans and family members of the names on the memorial. Some of them cried and hugged me and thanked me for telling their stories.

To those veterans and family members, I assure you, the honor was mine.

One of my grandfathers served in World War II, but I don’t know much about what he experienced. My other grandfather served in Korea. He passed away this spring before I ever worked up the nerve to ask him about his time in the war.

I’m told it’s harder to tell those stories to family, but it might be my life’s great regret, not ever asking him to tell me.

They all have a story. Some will never want to share, but some will.

It is the least any of us can do to listen when they choose to share their story.

And in my job as a military reporter, it will remain my life’s greatest honor to share those stories whenever I can.

No matter the politics, it’s up to us to thank them by ensuring their stories are not forgotten.

Jenn Rowell covers the military and Great Falls government for the Tribune. Reach her at jrowell@greatfallstribune.com or call her at 406-791-1484.